Liquid treatment of yarns



Oct. 4, 1938. R. w. MONCRIEFF E r AL 2,131,814

LIQUID TREATMENT OF YARNS Filed Jan. 18, 1935 78 g 7 F76. 2 a 20 19 55 y=1o i v I I 0 @e y ,6 A 5 27 58 E 14 E l l l 0 (D I i* l RUBERT W- MONfiRlEFF FRANK B- HILL THOMAS B FREARSON Patented Qct.4, -193 8j Robert Wighton Moncriefl',

Hill, and Thomas Barnard near Derby, England, Corporation aware Application January 18,

Frank Brentnail Frearson, Spondon, assignors to Celanese of America, a corporation of Del- 1935, Serial No. 2.324

In Great Britain February 8, 1934 8 Claims. -(Cl. 8-154) This invention relates to the liquid treatment of yarns, and has as its principal object to provide a means for carrying out effectivelysuchtreatment upon yarns wound into packages. While the liquid treatment of yarn in package form presents many advantages, including the possibility of avoiding re-winding the yarn before and/or-after the treatment, considerable difficulties are met with in practice in effecting uniform in treatment of the yarn,

is fine in character and where it consists of vcontinuous filaments, and particularly if the filaments are only lightly twisted together. We have, now found that uniform treatment of yarn on a bobbin can be effected by surrounding a bobbin with a casingand forcing treating liquor through the bobbin into the casing, the casing being maintained full during the operation and the liquor being allowed to escape from the casing at a slow rate so that considerable pressure is maintained in the casing. The whole of the yarn on the bobbin is thus subjected to the liquor under pressure so that not only is the yarn uniformly treated along the length of the bobbin, butalso throughout the thickness of the bobbin, because the pressure maintained in the surrounding liquor by the casing precludes rapid flow through the outer layer of yarn.

, The bobbin is suitably perforated or slotted so as to provide for substantially uniform distribution of the liquor introduced under pressure within the hollow bobbin. A lining of gauze or the employed to assist in such dislike may also be tribution. I

The requisite pressure is conveniently set up by means of centrifugal force. Thus, the bobbin may be mounted on a. perforated or slotted spindle driven by any convenient meansoat the requisite speed. The liquor is then supplied to the interior of the hollow spindle, centrifugal force driving the liquor through the yarn on the bobbin into the surrounding casing. When the casing becomes full, the liquor in it reaches considerable'pressure. A slow rate of flow of the liquor from the outer casing is conveniently effectedby the provision of fine perforations through which the liquoris flung by the rotation of the casing. These perforations are preferably symmetrically placed round the casing to avoid the setting up of vibrations, 'and have a size appropriate to the flow desired at the speed of operation employed. For example, for operation at speeds up to say 15,000 or 16,000 revolutions per minute, two or three holes may be used of a. diameter up to .015 inch. Liquor is supplied to the hollow spindle at a ,casing and to keep the spindle especially where the yarn rounded by a guard 2'! which the yarn is to be rate sufficient to make up for the flow from the filled over the length occupied by the bobbin.

By way of example one form of apparatus according to the invention will now be described in 5 greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. I is a diagrammatic elevation partly in section of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 shows in section of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a horizonta illustrated in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, the apparatus comprises a rail'5 carrying a spindle mounting B which supports a spindle i. The spindle i is inverted, the

wharl 8 by means of which it is driven being at its upper end just below the rail 5.

As seen in Fig. 2, the spindle I is hollow, is

cross-section of the bobbin closed at the bottom by means of a plug 9, and is provided "with a number of perforations iii.

A provided on a threaded part l2 of the spindle l, the nut ll supporting a large flanged member l3 into which fits a wide sleeve or casing it which may conveniently be welded thereto. A further nut IS on thethreaded portion 12 supports a bobbin It, a. rubber ring I! being interposed between the nut l5 and the bobbin IG. Towards the upper end of the spindle 1 there is fitted a further large flange iii of the same size as the flange l3, into which the upper end of the casing l4 fits. .The casing l4 and the upper flange IQ of the bobbin l6 are pressed by means of the nuts ii and I5 against a rubber packing ring 20. Three small perforations 2| are provided in the casing M, at points symmetrically disposed around it. The hollow spindle 'l is tapered internally, being narrower towards its upper end than at its lower end.

Referring again to Fig. 1, the entire .spindle 0 assembly is surrounded by means of a guard casing 23 from the bottom of which a drain 24 leads into a drain tank 25. The upper end 26 of the spindle 1, which is open at the top is also surfrom which a drain 28 leads into the drain tank 25. The liquid with treated is supplied from a feed tank 30 through a feed pipe 3| and valve 32 to the open upper end 26 01' the spindle l. The liquid running into the drain tank 25 is conveyed by means. of a pump 33 and pipes 34 back to the feed tank 30. v

The spindle I, together with the bobbin l6 mounted thereon and the flanges I 3, I 3 and the knurled nut i i is casing i4, is set in rotation by means of the wharl a detail of the apparatus 10 outwards under centrifugal force, issuing slowly from the fine orifices 2!. The valve 32 is adjusted so that, after the space within the casing I4 has been entirely filled, the rate of supply of liquid from the feed tank 30 to the interior of the spindle I is sufiicient to make up the amount of liquid issuing from the orifices 2|. Any excess of liquid fed by the pipe 3| is fiung out by centrifugal force and caught by the guard 21 from which it drains to the tank 25. The liquid flung through the orifices 2! is caught by the guard 23 and runs through the drain 24 also into the drain tank 25 from which the liquid is returned to the feed tank 30. By these means the liquid applied is forced through the yarn 35 wound on the bobbin I6, under high pressure, and at a rate which is slow by reason of the fineness of the orifices 2 I. As a result, the yarn 35 is uniformly treated with the liquid throughout its entire thickness on the bobbin.

The rail 5 may conveniently serve as a support for a series of spindles, all the spindles being fed, if desired, by a common feed tank 30, and draining into a common drain tank 25. formity of treatment of the several packages simultaneously treated in one batch, and -of the several batches successively treated may be ensured by any convenient means, e. g. by ensuring that the same quantity of liquid flows through each package.

The employment of an inverted spindle 1 having a driving wharl 8 near the upper end thereof not only makes for steadier running, the greater part of the weight of the spindle being below the bearings which support it, but also prevents the wharl and the driving belt therefor from being splashed with the liquid issuing from the orifices 2|. The tapered boring of the spindle I causes the liquid initially introduced at the upper end 26 of the spindle to be flung towards the bottom of the spindle and ensures that the system is filled with liquid.

The bobbin employed and illustrated in vertical section in Fig. 2 is shown in horizontal section in Fig. 3. The bobbin is made throughout of steel, and the barrel thereof on which the yarn 35 is wound consists of a number of bars 36 of triangular cross-section between which are spaces 31 through which the liquid is thrown by centrifugal action. Outside the bars 36 is wound a cylinder of wire gauze 38 with which the yarn 35 is in direct contact. If desired, a similar cylinder of wire gauze may be fitted inside the hollow spindle 1 in order that the liquid flowing out from the spindle may be more evenly distributed.

The speed of rotation of the spindle I varies in accordance with the nature of the yarn undergoing treatment and of the liquor itself, especially the viscosity of the liquor. Low-twisted continuous filament yarn requiresa greater rate of rotation than, yarn of higher twist, but uniform treatment can be effected even with low twist continuous filament yarn substantially parallel Uni-" eral, the invention being particulraly suitable for the treatment of artificial continuous filament yarn, e. g. cellulose acetate or other cellulose derivative yarn, and viscose, nitrocellulose, and cuprammonium artificial silk. In the case of dyeing, dyestufls may be employed as solutions or dispersions, care being taken in the latter case to see that an adequate amount of dispersing agent is present. The invention may also be employed in connection with the complete or partial saponification of cellulose acetate or other cellulose ester yarns, a suitable saponifying agent, together, if desired, with a small quantity of wetting agent being forced under pressure through the material. For example, a solution of caustic soda of say 2%, 5%, 15% or higher concentration may be passed through a bobbin of cellulose acetate yarn until the cellulose acetate has reached the desired degree of saponification.

The invention may also be applied to the treatment of yarn wound in cake form, as produced by centrifugal boxes in wet processes for the production of artificial filaments. Thus, using the method of applying pressure described above with reference to the drawing, the cake may be placed within a perforated shell and mounted on the spindle 1. The shell is surrounded by the casing l4 perforated to permit and control the flow of liquor supplied to the interior of the cake. In order to distribute the liquor over the inner layers of the cake, a perforated shell similar to the wire gauze 38 may be placed inside the cake, liquor being supplied at a rate sufiicient to cover the whole length of this inner shell. Apart from washing, bleaching, and dyeing yarn in cake form, this application of the invention is advantageous in connection with saponifying or otherwise treating stretched cellulose acetate or otheryarns which have been collected in centrifugal boxes at the end of the stretching operation.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. Process for the liquid treatment of yarn in package form, which comprises feeding a treating liquid into a hollow yarn package and rapidly rotating said package so as to force said liquid through the yarn on said package by pressure due to centrifugal force, said package being completely immersed in treating liquid contained in a casing from which said liquid is allowed to issue at a rate such that the liquid in the casing is maintained under super-atmospheric pressure.

2. Processfor the liquid treatment of yarn in package form, which comprises feeding a treating liquid into a hollow yarn package, rapidly rotating said package so as to force said liquid through the yarn on said package by pressure due to centrifugal force, said package being completely immersed in treating liquid contained in a casing from which said liquid is allowed to issue at a rate such that the liquid in the casing is maintained under a pressure substantially greater than that outside the casing.

3. Process for the saponification of yarn containing a cellulose ester while such yarn is in package form, which comprises feeding a saponifying liquid into a hollow package of yarn comprising cellulose ester filaments and rapidly rotating said package so as to force said liquid through the yarn on said package by pressure due to centrifugal force, said package being completely immersed in treating liquid contained in a casing from which said liquid is allowed to issue at a rate such that the liquidin the casing is maintained under a pressure substantially greater than atmospheric.

' than atmospheric.

5. Apparatus for the liquid treatment of yarn in package form, comprising a casing provided with an outlet means, means for holding a hollow yarn package coaxially in said casing, means for feeding treating liquid to the interior of said package, and means for rapidly rotating said,

casing with the yarn package contained therein, so'as to force the liquid fed into the package through the yarn on the package under pressure and out through said outlet means, said outlet means being of such dimensions as to offer a substantial resistance to the liquid flow.

6. Apparatus for the liquid treatment of yarn i-napackage form, comprising a casing provided with an outlet means having a cross-sectional area not exceeding the order of 6 x 10* square centimeters, means for holding a hollow yarn package coaxially in said casing, means for feeding treating liquid to the interior of said package, means for rapidly rotating'said casing with the yarn package contained therein, so as to.

Iorce'the liquid fed into the package through the yarn on the package under pressure and out through said outlet means, and means surrounding the casing and adapted to catch the liquid flowing therefrom..

7. Apparatus for the liquid treatment of yarn in package form, comprising a casing provided with an outlet means, means comprising a perforated hollow spindle adapted to carrya hollow yarn package coaxially .in said casing, driving means for said spindle at,the upper end thereof, means for feeding treating liquid to the interior of said package, and means for rapidly rotating said casing with the yarn package contained therein, so as to force the liquid fed into the-package through the yarnon the package under pressure and out through said outlet means, said outlet means being of such dimensions as to offer a substantial resistance to the liquid flow.

8. Apparatus for the liquid treatment of yarn in package form, comprising a perforated hollow spindle, means at the upper end of said spindle for rapidly rotating the same, a flange on said spindle near said driving means, a nut near the lower end of said spindle adapted to force a yarn package mounted on said spindle towards said flange, a cylindrical casing adapted to surround said flange and to flt into said flange, a further flange adapted to support sid casing from beneath, a nut adapted to screw on to said spindle and to hold said further flange in position, means for feeding treating liquid to the interior of said spindle, said cylindrical casing being provided with at least one fine perforation such as to allow the liquid to escape but to offer a substantial l resistance to its flow.

ROBERT WIGHTON MONCRIEFF. FRANK BRENTNALL HILL. THOMAS BARNARD FREARSON. 

